Crops Caper spurge (Euphorbia lathyris)

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Common Name	CAPER SPURGE
Latin binomial	Euphorbia lathyris
Plant family	Euphorbiaceae
Names in other languages	euphorbe epurge (F), kreuzblattrige wolfsmilch (D), leche trezna (E)

Caper spurge is often known as the 'mole plant' because of its reputation for deterring the activity of this creature. A native of Mediterranean areas, it has spread into Northern Europe, and has also been introduced into the USA. The seeds have in the past been used for medicinal purposes and for the production of lamp oil; the oil content of the seeds is high, about 50 percent by weight, of which some 85 percent is in the form of oleic acid, used in the preparation of some soaps, detergents, lubricants, paints and cosmetics: the oil has also been suggested as a possible diesel fuel substitute. Research on the crop has been conducted in the USA and especially Germany, where yields of over 2 t seed per ha have been achieved from experimental plots; small trials in the United Kingdom have indicated that similarly high yields may be obtainable elsewhere.

This entry forms part of the publication Crops for Industry and Energy in Europe

References:

Anthony, K R M, Meadley, J & Robellen, G (Eds) (1993) New Crops for Temperate Regions. London: Chapman & Hall

Janick, J & Simon, J E (Eds) (1990) Advances in New Crops. Proceedings of the First National Symposium on New Crops: Research, Development, Economics. Portland: Timber Press.

Perry, F (1972) Flowers of the World. London: Hamlyn Press.

Robellen, G, Downey, K R & Ashri, A (Eds) (1989) Oil Crops of the World: their Breeding and Utilisation. New York: McGraw-Hill.